Germany welcomes Trump ‘long-term commitment’ in Afghanistan

The German government is welcoming “the United States’ readiness to continue its long-term commitment in Afghanistan.”

The government says in a statement after US President Donald Trump alluded to deploying more American troops in Afghanistan that Germany and the US share the aim of ensuring that no terror attacks are spawned there.

It adds: “It is right, and the German government has long advocated this, for the end of the deployment to be linked to the conditions on the ground.”

It pressed for the Afghan government to step up its reform and anti-corruption efforts, but also to “seek dialogue with the parts of the Taliban that are prepared for a peaceful reconciliation.”

Germany is one of the major contributors to the NATO-led Resolute Support mission, with 950 troops largely in northern Afghanistan.

— AP